I am not trying to be a party pooper, a scrooge or a (fill in the blank)… but I don’t get into April Fools Day. Maybe I’m just getting old, maybe I just don’t see the point or maybe I’m to practical to understand how someone could fall for a prank on a day that’s set aside for pranks.

I want all you fools out there have fun with your pranks… but I my friends will not participate in April Fools Day, because “I’m Not A Fool!” Maybe this post is some weird April Fools Joke that will make people think that I don’t participate; therefore allowing me to play pranks on others… Who Knows! I do know one thing: “I’m Not A Fool!”

Do you participate in April Fools Day? Am I just being a scrooge? Share your favorite pranks!

Selfless- Be more concerned about the success and growth of those that work for you, than you are about the growth and development of yourself.

Teachable- Be able and willing to learn not only from those that lead you, but those that you lead.

Upstanding- Be above reproach, lead with integrity, walk the talk, lead by example, realize and embrace that those you lead are watching the example that you set in all areas.

Practical- Use common sense, be realistic with expectations, be patient, realize that there is nothing that you can’t begin to fix in 5 Minutes and 5 Phone Calls.

Ignorable- Refrain from noticing or paying close attention to; in other-words ignore your biggest fans and your biggest critics… instead embrace those that fall somewhere in the middle. Although you ignore those two extreme ends of the spectrum, understand there may be nuggets of truth in both extremes.

Determined- Be focused, committed, dedicated and determined to be the absolute best that you can be (PERIOD). Don’t lead with simple expectation of greatness, instead lead with anticipation of greatness. Keep It STUPID simple!

Email– Stop thinking that you you have to answer every tweet, read every tweet; and when you miss some tweets, stop feeling like your twitter inbox is over-flow… Twitter is not email!

A Chat-room– Don’t think you and your friends can have an open stream of conversations that last 15-20 tweets, take that stuff to DM… Twitter is not a chat-room!

A Porn Site– Take your soft porn and bikini profile pics somewhere else, everyone knows that you just cropped the pics from some magazine and you really aren’t impressing anyone… Twitter is not a porn site!

Your Personal Address Book– If you think that you have to personally know everyone that you follow or follows you, you are missing the point of Twitter. You don’t have to personally know all of your tweeps; however you can make some great friendships and connections… Twitter is not your personal address book!

The Barney Show– Don’t feel like you have to sing the “Barney Song” with everyone in the Tworld: “I follow you, you follow me… we are one big happy twamily, with a great big follow from me to you, won’t you say I’ll follow you to.” You can reciprocate follows if you want to, especially if they seem interesting, seem like someone you want to connect with, a celebrity you like, add value to the conversation, have similar interests/backgrounds, are not spammers etc. Don’t feel compelled to follow-back anybody and everybody, keyword “Compelled”… Twitter is not The Barney Show!

Bonus (Added 4/18/09): A place for the Mikeyy virus or any other virus/worm for that matter. To all the worm/virus/bug creators: “There are two exits on the side, 1 at the rear and one up front… please exit Twitter now!”

There are so many things that Twitter Is… and even more things that Twitter Is Not! Share your thoughts on any of these 5 Things Twitter Is Not and add some additional things to the Twitter Is Not list.

Individuals come into the prison system for a wide range of sins including but not limited to: stealing, lying, cheating, robbery, drug selling, drug using, possession of firearms, violation of parole, murder….. and the biggest and worse one of them all “Well I will get to that one in a minute.”

One thing that is clear in the prison/judicial system is that sin has labels; some sins are worse than other sins.A person might receive 5 years for one crime and 20 years for another crime.Two individuals might commit the same crime and receive different sentences depending upon the circumstances, the judge, the attorneys, the jury and so on; in other words the gravity of their sentence is open to interpretation.

We should not judge people, or throw stones… because we are all sinners and that sin nature is what separates us from God.The reality is, sin has labels and in the prison system the biggest and worst sinners of them all are “Sex Offender” whom are treated totally different then any of the other sinners (more likely to be brutalized, raped, killed…) “That’s not perception, that’s reality!”

There is a sin classification in the eyes of other inmates and there is also a sin classification in the eyes of the public. I remember sitting down talking to a A Sex Offender and some of his peers when I was a Warden and him saying to me: “By being in prison we are considered by most to be the scum of the earth; by being a Sex Offender we are considered the scum, of the scum of the earth, we ain’t %@#$.”

All sin is the same: If we cut ourselves small, medium or large we will bleed and those cuts (sins) are what separate us from God.Some of those cuts may bleed longer, may leave a bigger scar and may even lead to death.

All sin is not the same in the Prison System

All sin is not the same in the Judicial System

All sin is not the same in __________________

Is all sin the same in “our” system? Do we tend to think that other people’s sin is worse than our sin?Does God view all sin the same?Should a Sex Offender be treated differently? Questions, Questions, Questions?

Many times people will use the phrase “Perception is Reality” or “Perception becomes Reality” which is true in some cases; however “Perception Is Not Always Reality.”One of the most common perceptions about prison is the old “Soap on a Rope” or “Big Bubba” is going to get you.In other words, many people think that if you go to prison that you are going to get raped.

I am here to tell you that perception is not always reality.There are definitely situations in prison where inmates are raped and even murdered; however that is the exception and not the rule.The same economy of scale applies to outside of the prison walls; you can be raped and murdered in the “Free World.” There are plenty of willing participants behind the walls, that inmates generally don’t have to force themselves.Here are a few more prison perceptions that are not always reality:

Murderers are always the “Mean & Scary guys” (Many times, not the case.)

If someone is behind bars they can’t continue to commit crimes (There are networks of criminal behavior behind the prison walls, just as there are in the free world.You give an idle mind and Satan a bunch of free time… Watch Out!)

“They are just claiming God because they are in prison.”(Many times we have to find ourselves like Jonah, before we get it… remember these guys are no different than many of us, they just happened to get caught.)

What are some perceptions that are not always reality that we face: I’m not good enough, I can’t do this because I’m a female, we will never get out of debt, I’m to young, I will always be single, I couldn’t be a pastor, my business won’t be successful, you can’t shake that addiction, my marriage can’t be restored…..

PERCEPTION IS NOT ALAWYS REALITY!

What are some other perceptions that you have about prison?What are some perceptions that you have overcome as not being reality? Do you have any other thoughts on Perception & Reality?

A commonly used phrase in prison is “Put Some Water On It.”Okay here is the short and skinny of what “Put Some Water On It” really means.When an individual is using the bathroom; specifically the Number 2 other inmates will yell or politely say “Put Some Water On It.”

Generally inmates share a toilet in a small 8×10 cell, or the bathroom is located in a common area and “Putting Some Water On It” refers to flushing the toilet during a bile movement.Not only flushing but specifically flushing after each plop.I know that’s (TMI) too much information; however I want you to get the picture.Putting some water on it will ensure that the number 2 doesn’t stink up the rest of the area; in other words inmates don’t want to smell others’ stinky poop if they can avoid it.

Many times we have to smell others stinky poop: Bitterness, Jealousy, Gossiping, Envy, Addictions, Pride, Insecurities, Anger, Lying… and just want to yell or politely say “Put Some Water On It!”In other words people get sick of always having to deal with others stinky poop; especially when all they have to do is flush.Stop gossiping, stop lying, confess your addictions, humble yourself, get some accountability for your porn problem, get over your insecurities, stop wanting what other people have, get control of your debt… and “Put Some Water On It.”

I am all about helping people with their problem areas; because we all have them.Sometimes people (me, you, and others) need to just “Put Some Water On It,” flush the stinky poop and stop letting it just sit in the toilet.

Do you find yourself facing people and their situations and want to say “Put Some Water On It.”Are there areas of your life in which you need to “Put Some Water On It?” Honestly, do you just get sick and tired of stinky poop lingering in the toilet?

Many of you who are new to BigIsTheNewSmall may not know my story.I spent about thirteen years in the prison system; that’s right horrible food, 8×10 cells, built up anger, razor wire….I was an Officer, then a Counselor and finally a Warden.This week, I am going to share some lessons that I learned while being in the prison system all of those years; some may be more graphic than others.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN BEING A WARDEN AND BEING A PASTOR

I’ve found the most effective strategy for leading people, is to “Be about the people!” (Genuinely care; take care of inmates or church members).

The method in which you lead people, can cause them to become a great asset or pain in the asset (many times the inmates were my greatest asset as a leader, the same philosphy applies to church members).

In corrections and ministry, individuals are led by specific rules, identified culture and organized structure. (Do’s & don’ts).

Inmates and church members act differently around the Warden and the Pastor (People in general talk different and act different around Pastors).

Just as we Got Rid of the word Church Member and changed it to Partners; there was a time in private corrections at lower-level security facilities when we changed from using the word Inmate, to using the word Client. (Both make a difference in the overall mindset).

Ultimately a Warden and a Pastor lead a venue where people can be confronted, held accountable, developed, challenged…. and leave personal chaos behind; in order for their lives to be truly CHANGED!

In the spirit of March Madness, I’m going to share 7 random, rambling Monday March Madness thoughts that are in my head:

My Sooners won this weekend and I’m picking them to win the NCAA National Championship; especially w/ the play of Superman Big Blake Griffin. Blake’s parents attend my campus and I talked with his dad at church this weekend about how Blake is able to stay so cool and calm through all of the flagrant fouls. His dad said he taught Blake and Taylor early on to never retaliate or let people get you out of your game. That’s good advice, “Don’t let people get you out of your game.”

Followed up with a lady this weekend who had been a stripper for many years; however she is now free from that lifestyle/world. She now has a great job and according to her, God is really moving in her life. You can totally feel the weight lifted from this woman’s life!

The Dave Ramsey Life.Money.Hope Series has people excited to run from debt with Gazelle Intensity. There is a married couple who are successful business owners that volunteer at my campus who came up to me and said they are selling their Escalade! They are ecstatic and serious about living debt free!

My wife and I taught Prep For Marriage this weekend (Fri. & Sat.)… I Really Love My Wife and God is truly blessing our current season of marriage (It’s Fun). I enjoy seeing couples excited about making the commitment to join their hearts together in God’s love.

I’m getting excited about “One Prayer” 2009, you and your church should be getting excited as well; click here for more information.

There is a chance for Severe weather and tornadoes today… When meteorologists say severe weather in Oklahoma, they mean business.

God created me to lead, learn and make a difference.

What has God created you to do? How was your weekend? What random Monday March Madness’s are going through your mind?

#FollowFriday is currently one of the most popular trends on Twitter. The concept is basically showing TwitterLuv by recommending Tweeps to follow each and every Friday; using the hashtag #FollowFriday. You basically go to searchtwitter use the keyword FollowFriday and watch the stream of FollowFriday lists come through by the second. Because of the popularity of FollowFriday, it’s hard to keep up with all the lists or get any detailed information on the followers.

We are about to take #FollowFriday to a whole nuva level. BigIsTheNewSmall.com is going to dedicate Friday’s blog post to the #FollowFriday community. In other-words you can pimp your #FollowFriday lists right here. The whole nuva level part is that in addition to the regular #FollowFriday concept, you will be able to: look at the stream of #FollowFriday lists in one place, get more detailed information, get aggregate lists before you tweet them, recommend yourself, copy and paste from lists…

I would like for everyone (Including RSS Readers) to share One Christian or Secular Artist/Group and One Song they sing. It can be a song that you really like, your favorite song, a new song that’s speaking to you, something you heard on the radio, something that you heard at a friends house, a song you liked from church this past weekend, a new tune you just downloaded… or just simply One Artist… One Song that you would like to share.